Wescott wants local feedback

Mayor-elect plans to form citizens panel

Published: Saturday, May 4, 2013 1:15 a.m. CDT

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(Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com)

Rock Falls City Clerk Bill Wescott will be sworn in as mayor during Tuesday's Rock Falls City Council meeting. The mayor-elect said he wants to form a citizens advisory committee to receive public feedback.

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(Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com)

Some Rock Falls residents are upset that banners leading into the city read “Welcome to Sterling.” Incoming Mayor Bill Wescott said he hopes to work with his Sterling counterpart to find a solution. Wescott will take office Tuesday.

BY DAVID GIULIANI
dgiuliani@saukvalley.com
800-798-4085, ext. 525

ROCK FALLS – Mayor-elect Bill Wescott is planning another way to get input from residents.

Wescott, who takes office Tuesday, said he wants to form a citizens advisory committee to give his administration feedback on issues. He said he would likely send letters to prospective members next month.

He said he also wants to start another type of City Council meeting – formally known as a committee of the whole – in which members would take no action but have an "open discussion" of issues.

As it is, Wescott said, City Council members fully discuss issues in meetings of various committees, which few residents attend. Then, he said, residents are surprised when those issues come before the full council, which takes a "rapid vote" without discussion.

"There should be more explanation," he said.

On April 9, Wescott beat Mayor David Blanton with 75 percent of the vote. Wescott, the city clerk for the last decade, is being succeeded as clerk by Eric Arduini, who beat two opponents in the election.

For the past few weeks, he has been training Arduini. He said he appreciated that Arduini has devoted time to learn the clerk's job.

If Arduini has questions after he is sworn in, Wescott said, all he has to do is walk down the hall to the mayor's office.

Wescott said he and Blanton have also met since the election.

"Dave and I sat down and talked. He was very gracious," Wescott said. "He brought me up to speed on things that he had knowledge of and I didn't. I appreciated it."

'Welcome to Sterling' signs irritate some

ROCK FALLS – How friendly is Sterling? The city welcomes people even when they're leaving.

Since last year, Sterling-bound motorists see "Welcome to Sterling" banners on the First Avenue bridge. And those who are headed south into Rock Falls are greeted with the same message.

It's Sterling's bridge, so the city put up the banners on lampposts after the state completed a bridge reconstruction project last fall. The city paid for the entire cost of the bridge's decorative railing and lights.